RIGHT TO PLAY ANNOUNCED AS CHARITY PARTNER FOR LONDON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

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London 2017 Ltd has named the children’s education charity, Right To Play as its charity partner for the IAAF World Championships London 2017

Right To Play uses sport and play to improve the lives of vulnerable children in some of the world’s poorest communities. Already a charity partner to British Athletics, Right To Play inspires athletics fans to give children around the world a sporting chance in life.

London 2017 Ltd Championship Director, Niels de Vos said “Having supported Right To Play since June last year when they came on board as a partner to UK Athletics, I am delighted that London 2017 also has them as our charity partner. These Championships give us a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on their work, alongside the world’s best athletes.

Greg Rutherford, Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European Champion, is a Right To Play Athlete Ambassador. He said, “Right To Play and London 2017 Ltd have teamed up to put children at the heart of the World Championships and to give disadvantaged children around the world a better future, through sport and play. Many of us take playing sport for granted but not all children have the same opportunities in life. Right To Play's approach is unique and effective and I'm proud to be their ambassador.”

“As a charity that has sport and play at its core Right To Play is a natural partner for the World Championships”, said Nikki Skipper, National Director at Right To Play UK. “The athletes competing here in London are the ultimate symbols of the power sport can have in helping individuals reach their potential. Our approach to education builds children’s confidence and life skills, enabling them to realise their own potential. Whether that is a child from a remote village in Ghana or a refugee in Lebanon – we make a real difference to children’s lives around the world.”

London 2017 Ltd and Right To Play are teaming up to show the positive impact that sport and play can have on young lives, and to raise awareness and funds for Right To Play's work.

Our goal is to raise enough money over the course of the Championships to reach 100,000 children with Right To Play programmes.

The IAAF World Championships London 2017 (04-13 August) are hosted in London this summer, with 2000 athletes from 200 countries set to compete.

***ENDS***

Liz Birchall / Ryan Bangs

Head of Communications, British Athletics & London 2017 / Press Manager

T: +44 (0) 7718 526 363 / +44 (0) 7867 193 138

E: lbirchall@britishathletics.org.uk / rbangs@london2017.org.uk

Nimtaz-Tanya Noordin

Communications Manager at Right To Play

T: + 44 (0) 203 752 5657

E: nnoordin@righttoplay.com

Notes to Editors:

Right To Play is a global charity that uses sport and play to improve the lives of vulnerable children in some of the world’s poorest communities. Each child deserves the chance to succeed and thrive in life but every day millions of children are challenged by poverty, war, disease and poor education. These challenges put their futures at risk and rob them of their potential. Right To Play gives them back that chance. Using sport and games we make education accessible and fun, teaching children critical life skills, how to resolve conflicts without violence and how to avoid disease.

Right To Play train local volunteers and teachers as Right To Play ‘coaches’ to deliver critical education programmes in their communities. This way over 14,900 coaches can reach over one million children every week in 16 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The aim is to help every child in need to reach their full potential, and to build a future shaped by opportunity, and not just challenge. To find out more: www.righttoplay.org.uk/London2017

The London 2017 Organising Committee is delivering the IAAF World Championships on behalf of UK Athletics, the Greater London Authority and UK Sport, supported by Department for Culture Media and Sport, following the event being awarded to London in November 2011.

The IAAF World Championships London 2017 take place from 4 – 13 August at the Olympic Stadium and, alongside the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017, are together the biggest sporting event of the year. You can find out more at www.iaafworldchampionships.com.